Shaking-grate



(No Model.)

T. J. GRAPE.

SHAKING GRATE;

No. 323,929. Patented Aug. 11 1885.

UNTTE STATES PATENT @TTTQE.

THOMAS J. GRAFF, PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHAKlNG-GRATE.

.eSPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 210.323.9329, dated August 11, 1885.

Application filed May 28, 1884. (Noinodell To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. GRAFF, of Pittsburg. in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shaking-Grates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to grates for burning coal and like fuel for heating purposes, its ob ject being to provide a house-grate which is neat in appearance, in which the fuel may be properly raked and shaken or stirred without the employment of a poker, and but little force is necessary for the purpose, in which the party raking can stand at the side of the grate, and is not exposed to the direct heat thereof, and in which the parts composing the grate are not thrown on a strain in shaking, and cost no more to manufacture than ordinary stove or grate castings.

It consists in combining with a stationary grate-basket having baekwardlyextending base-bars a rocking frame mounted under the grate and having a series of bars fitting between said base-bars and a rocker-arm extending out in front of the basket, a shield having a vertical slot provided with a handle-entrance opposite the rocker-arm when in its normal position, and a handle engaging with said rocker-arm through said handle-entrance, the

rocking frame being thus oscillated and the.

bars of the frame alternately raised above the grate-bed at the front and back thereof to rake and stir the fuel, and, after raking, the bars of the rocker-frame being left in line with the base-bars, as the handle is withdrawn only through the handle-entrance.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe its con- ."ltruction and operation, referring to the aceompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of my improved grate. Fig. 2 is a erosssection at the rocker. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line or m, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the front, illustrating the means of operating the rocking frame.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

The grate-basket a is supported by hooks and lugs 011 the grate-front b, and the brickwork forming the back and end walls of the grate, the eyes a fitting overhooks built inthe grate-walls. The front 0 of the grate-basket is formed of rather close grating, its object being to hold the fuel and allow the passage of air thereto, but the bed or base is formed of a series of bars, (1, extending back from the front 0, and a sufficient distance apart to give space between them for the bars 6 of the rocking frame. The greater portion of the gratebed is flat, but at the back it slopes gradually upward, as at f, to admit air more freely at the back of the grate. The rocking frame is formed of the roekin g shaft journaled in the seats cast on the basket a, and carrying the rocking bars 0, which fit between the bars d of the grate-bed. the upper edges of the bars 6 being even or flush with those of the bars at and sloping upward at their rear ends, as at e, corresponding to the portion f of the grate-bed, the bars (I of the stationary grate and the rocking bars 6 thus forming the bed on which the fuel is supported. The rocking frame is cast so as to balance within the grate, and in its normal position the upper edges of the bars 6 are parallel with the bars (I, and the frame is provided with the rocker laextending out from one of the bars 0 through the grate-front c, opnsite the slot Z in the shield m, the rocker resting opposite the handle-entrance a of the slot, hereinafter referred to, when the rocking frame is in its normal position. To limit the motion of the rocking frame, the lugs 19 extend across between some of the bars 61, above the rocking shaft g, and the upper surfaces of the bars f, below these lugs, are slightly cutaway or recessed to form shoulders 12, which strike against the lugs as the frame is oscillated. The shield m is hung by suitable hooks and lugs to the grate-front b or basket a, and hides the basket from view, the shield being finished and ornamented in any desired manner according to the finish-trimmings of the front, the mantel, or the fender. It has the slot Z, in which the handle 3' works when the grate is shaken, and this slot is provided with the enlargement or handle-entrance or, opposite the end of the rocker whenin its normal position, as above referred to, this enlargement per- ICO mitting the lug s on the socket s of the handle to pass through the shield, so that the socket can fit over the end of the rocker is. On account of this lug s" the handle can only engage with and be separated from the rocker when the rocking frame is in its normal position, and the weight of the fuel on the grate has a tendency to hold it in that position, so that there is no danger of the bars 0 of the rocking frame being left, after raking, eX- tending up into the fuel and above the gratebed, and thus being burned or melted by the heat of the fire. At the upper end of the slot Zis the recess Z, and on the handle 8 is the rib t, which enters this recess diagonally as the handle is raised, the purpose of the rib and recess being to press the handle-socket 8 upon the end of the rocker 7c and prevent its withdrawal while the handle is raised. This is found necessary, because the pressure of the hand in raising the handle has a tendency to draw the socket off the rocker. As the handle is lowered, however, the pressure acts to hold the handle on the rocker, and the lug s", traveling on the inner surface of the shield, prevents the withdrawal of the handle, except when opposite the handle-entrance a. Any desired form of fender w may be employed, the forms shown carrying out the general design and at the same time closing the aslrspace below the shield.

\Vhen the grate is in use, the fuel is supported within the basket a, resting on the bedhars (Z and bars 0 of the rocking frame, and the weight of the fuel holds the upper surfaces of the bars (Z and 6 parallel. The air passes through the openings in the shield m, or under and around the fender w and between the bars of the grate-basket, and, producing combustion of the fuel, generates heat, the products of combustion passing up the chimney.

When the grate becomes clogged with ashes, or for other reason it is desired to stir the fire, the handle 8 is inserted through the handleentrance a of the shield on, over the rocker k, and the rocking frame is oscillated, the bars 0 being caused to rise between the bars (Z and raise and stir the fuel at the back and front of the grate, thoroughly stirring the fuel and shaking out the ashes, which fall between the bars (Z and 0 into the space beneath. The lower edges of the bars 0 do not extend above the upper faces of the stationary bars (Z, so that they have no tendency to catch and draw the fuel down through the grate, their opera tion being to sift out the ashes. On account of the upwardlyextending rear edges, 6, of the bars 0, they enter further into the mass of fuel, and so remove all the ashes at the back of the grate.

' In shaking the grate the handle rises and falls in the slot Z, and as it approaches the top of the slot the rib t enters the recess Z, and thus holds the handle on the rocker, as above described. But little power is needed to oscillate the rocking frame, as great leverage is obtained by the handle, and the power is applied directly to the frame; and as the rocker is at the side of the grate the person raking need not stand in front of the fire and subject to its direct rays. But little strain is thrown on the grate in shaking, as the only resistance is the fuel resting on the grate. After shaking the handle is brought opposite the enlarge ment n, so that the lug s can pass out, and is then withdrawn, leaving the rocking frame in its normal position, and the weight of the fuel holds it there, the rocker ren'iaiuing opposite the handle-entrance, so that the ban dle can be placed over it when next employed.

The parts of the grate proper can be cast in the same manner as ordinary stove-castings, and require but little, if any, finishing, so that the grate is comparatively inexpensive.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with the stationary gratebasket having the back \vardlyextending basebars (Z, the rocking frame mounted under the grate and having a series of bars, e, fitting between the stationary bars (Z, and a rocker arm, 76, the shield on, having the slot Z, provided with the handle entrance a, opposite the rocker when in its normal position, and the handle 3, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. I

2. In combination with the stationarygratebasket and the rocking frame therein, pro vided with the rocker 7c, the shield m, having the slot Zand recess Z, and the handle .9, engaging with the rocker, and having the rib t, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said THOMAS J. GRAFF, have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS J. GRAFF.

IVitnesses:

Janus I. KAY, J. N. (100KB. 

